AB0284 COGNITIVE AND DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS IN PATIENTS WITH RA, THEIR CONNECTION WITH THE LEVEL OF BRAIN - DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR
Authors: L. Perebetiuk, I. Shapoval, V. Khomenko, O. Ostapchuk, L. Shvets, M. Stanislavchuk
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2022)

Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common pathology among other rheumatic diseases. Chronic inflammation, prolonged pain, early disability of patients - all these factors contribute to the development of depressive and cognitive disorders in this category of patients. Still, the mechanisms of these disorders remain poorly understood. Recently, the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as one of the factors of cognitive and depressive disorders in various pathological conditions has been widely discussed in the literature. Objectives To study cognitive and depressive disorders in RA patients and their association with serum BDNF levels. Methods 79 women with RA, aged 21 to 74 years, on average (M ± SD) 48.7 ± 10.2 were examined. Diagnosis RA was established according to EULAR / ACR criteria (2010). Patients’ cognitive function was assessed by the MMSE (Mini Mental State Examination). The presence and severity of depression were determined by the QIDS-SR16 (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report). Serum BDNF was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using standard BDNF Quantikine ELISA kits (R&amp;B Systems, USA). The control group consisted of 30 age matched healthy women. Results It was found that the level of BDNF in the serum of women with RA was 1.5 times higher than in healthy individuals and was 16.8 ± 10.8 ng/ml and 11.32 ± 4.89 ng/ml, respectively. Cognitive disorders (MMSE ˂28 points) were registered in the majority (78.5%) of patients with RA, while in the control group, there were only 10%. The mean MMSE values in RA patients and the control group were 27.2 ± 1.45 and 29.1 ± 0.99, respectively. Depressive disorders (QIDS-SR16 ≥ 6 points) were reported in 53% of patients, while in the control group, it was 3.3%. It was found that depressive disorders in RA patients were associated with BDNF levels (r = 0.208; p˂0.05) and age (r = 0.159; p˂0.05). There was no significant association between BDNF levels and MMSE in RA patients. In the control group it was found negative correlation (-0.257; p &lt;0.05). We found also close negative correlation between MMSE and age in patients with RA (r = -0.689; p˂0.001). A significant relation with age was also registered in the healthy group (r = -0.257; p˂0.05). Conclusion Patients with RA had an increased level of BDNF compared with the control group. Most of them had cognitive and depressive disorders. Depressive disorders in RA patients are associated with higher levels of BDNF in the blood and with age. No association of cognitive impairment with BDNF has been established in patients. Cognitive disorders in RA patients are most closely associated with age. Moderate association between MMSE and BDNF levels was established in control group. References [1]Cheon, Y. H., Lee, S. G., Kim, M., Kim, H. O., Suh, Y. S., Park, K. S., &amp; Lee, S. I. (2018). The association of disease activity, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and neurotrophic factors with depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Brain, behavior, and immunity, 73, 274-281. [2]Pedard, M., Quirié, A., Tessier, A., Garnier, P., Totoson, P., Demougeot, C., &amp; Marie, C. (2021). A reconciling hypothesis centered on brain-derived neurotrophic factor to explain neuropsychiatric manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology, 60 (4), 1608-1619. Disclosure of Interests None declared